Protect Your Valuables with a Personal Articles Floater: Specialized Protection for High-Value Belongings

When it comes to protecting the things you own, most people assume their homeowners or renters insurance policy has them fully covered. While these policies do provide coverage for personal belongings, they often come with limits—especially for high-value items. If you own valuable personal property such as fine jewelry, artwork, or collectibles, you may want to consider adding a Personal Articles Floater (PAF) policy to your insurance plan.

What Is a Personal Articles Floater?

A Personal Articles Floater is a specialized insurance policy designed to cover valuable personal property that may not be fully protected under your standard homeowners or renters insurance. It provides broader and more flexible protection by allowing you to insure specific items or categories at their appraised value.

Some of the most commonly covered items under a PAF policy include:

• Jewelry and engagement rings
• Watches and luxury timepieces
• Cameras and photography equipment
• Fine art, sculptures, and collectibles
• Firearms
• Musical instruments
• Antiques and heirlooms
• Designer handbags and fashion accessories

A PAF policy typically provides worldwide, all-risk coverage, which means your items are protected whether they’re at home, traveling with you, or temporarily located elsewhere.

Why a Homeowners Policy Isn’t Always Enough

Standard homeowners insurance has sub-limits on specific categories of personal property. For example, coverage for jewelry is often limited to $1,500 in the event of theft. That might sound like a lot until you consider that a single engagement ring, luxury watch, or collectible item could be worth several times that amount.

Additionally, homeowners insurance typically only covers losses due to certain named perils—such as fire or theft. A Personal Articles Floater, on the other hand, offers all-risk coverage, which may include accidental loss or damage. So if you drop your diamond earrings down the sink or crack your camera lens while traveling, a PAF policy can step in where standard coverage falls short.

Key Benefits of a Personal Articles Floater

• Broader Protection: Covers accidental loss, mysterious disappearance, and damage not covered by a standard policy.
• Customizable Coverage: Insure individual items for their appraised value.
• No Deductible (Optional): Many PAF policies allow you to choose a zero-deductible option.
• Worldwide Coverage: Your valuables are protected no matter where you take them.
• Peace of Mind: You can rest easy knowing your most prized possessions are fully insured.

Who Should Consider a Personal Articles Floater?

If you’ve recently inherited family heirlooms, purchased an engagement ring, invested in a new camera for your business, or started collecting valuable art or watches, a PAF policy is a smart way to protect that investment. Even if you don’t think your items are extraordinarily valuable, it’s worth having them appraised—many people underestimate what their personal items are worth until it’s too late.

Let Morning Star Insurance Guide You

Navigating insurance options can be confusing, especially when it comes to specialized coverage like a Personal Articles Floater. That’s where Morning Star Insurance comes in. Our knowledgeable agents will help you identify gaps in your current coverage and determine whether a PAF policy is right for you. We’ll walk you through the process, explain your options clearly, and help ensure your most important possessions are properly protected. Whether you need coverage for one special item or a whole collection, we’re here to help safeguard what matters most.